Northern California racing remains on hold

The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday rejected two date-allocation requests for spring and summer Thoroughbred meets at Red Bluff and Ferndale, effectively ending the prospect of Northern California racing in 2026.

The board voted 4–2 against proposals from the Tehama District Fair in Red Bluff and the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, extending a shutdown of the once-active Northern circuit that has been dormant since December 2024.

CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, told TDN Admerica the applications were not commercially viable.

“As much as I’d like to see them do well, they have no chance of success,” Ferraro said ahead of the votes.

Ferraro added that wagering demand in the region was insufficient and warned that approving the dates could further strain the state’s broader racing industry.

“There’s just no market for them up there,” he said. “You’re going to end up destroying all of racing in California to bet on a no-chance situation.”

Ferraro said Northern California racing could return in the future, but not under current conditions